Electrolytic process and apparatus



- M. M. MERRITT. uscmounc PROCESS [AND APPARATUS.:

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 3', 5H9:

Patented Aug. 9,1921.

M. M. MERRITT. ELECTROLYTIC Pmrcess AND APPARATUS?" AP/PHCATION FILED OCT. 13, I919.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

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MATTHEW M. MERRITT, or scorn MIDDLETON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNQR To VMERRITT METALS COMPANY, or SALEM, massaormsnms, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

Application filed October 13, 1919. Serial No. 330,408.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MATTHEW M. MERRITT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Middleton, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented anImprovement 'in Electrolytic Processes and Apparatus, of which the following description, in

connection with the accompanying draw- 'lngs, 1s a specification, like characters on the drawlngs representing like parts.

This invention pertains to improvements in electrolytic processes and apparatus.

In the drawings, which show an illustrative embodiment of a preferred form of apparatus with which my improved method may be practised Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in sec-1 tion;

Fig. 2 is a plane View; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig.

clined trough 9 down which the electrolyte may flow between anodes 10 past the cathode or'cathodes 11 into a second inclined trough 12 also preferably containing anodes and cathodes, which trough returns the electrolyte to the tank 5,preferably providing for aeration of the electrolyte by providing a fall 13 which preferably supplements an initial fall 14 where the pipe 8 discharges into the first inclined trough 9.

'I have elected to show the anodes 10- as bodies of relatively small pieces of'metal, preferably copper, confined behind screens 15 which are preferably located relatively close to the cathodes 11. I have also elected to show my improved apparatus and process as used in connection with the manufacture of tubes for aeroplane or other radiators, the tubes being clamped between non-conductive strips 1616, preferably of wood, and bored at intervals to receive the ends of the tubes. I have shown an electric connection to these cathodes through a wire 17 passing along one of the non-conductive strips. The connection to the anodes maybe made in any suitable Way, as byplates 18 passing down.

the sides of the troughs. The amount of space between the anodes 10 and cathodes 11 is preferably such that, taking into consideration the slope of the troughs, the electrolyte will pass down the troughs at a relatively high rate of flow while maintaining a substantially constant depth. -1 may, if de-. sired, provide gates 19 to re ulate orcontrol tosome extent the rate of ow. The depth and rate of the flow is also, of course, to some extent controlled by the rate at which the centrifugal pump circulates the electrolyte. Where an acid electrolyte is used the centrifugal pump, pipe, etc,, should be lined stream. It-also preferably includes the location of the anode material in close proximity to the cathode material and, where a plurality of cathodes are used, the distribution thereof longitudinally of the stream.-

Patented Aug.9,1921. I

As a matter of economy, my process preferably includes the criculation of the electrolyte so that it is used again and again. I

have found that aeration of the electrolyte inany suitable way, but preferably by providing one or more falls in the circulatory system, is of marked advantage in ridding the electrolyte of occluded hydrogen, and

seems to.-,.otherwise increase the efliciency thereof. I have found that the use of the swiftly-flowing stream of electrolyte enables me to utilize a much higher current density per square foot of anode surface than could otherwise be used without impairing the quality of the deposited material and that the constant renewal of the ionic supply to the electrolyte in the flowing stream,

preferably coupled with proximity of cathode material to the anode material, promotes evenness of deposit throughout the cathode surface area in different portions of the stream.

While I have shown and described apparatus which constitutes a preferred embodiment of my invention, and while I have described a preferred way of practising my improved method, it Will be understood that changes in the apparatus and even changes in the method described may be made without departing fromthe sco e of my invention, which is best defined 1n the following claims.

Claims:

1. Apparatus for use in electro-deposition comprisingv means for holding a plurality of objects distributed longitudinally of a flowing stream of electrolyte, negative electrical connections to said objects to render the same cathodes, and anodes distributed legigthwise of the stream adjacent said cath- 0 es.

2. Apparatus for use-in the electro-deposition .of tubes comprising holders for the tube cores, a trou h in whichsaid holders and the tube cores eld thereby may be held, negative electrical connections to said cores rendering the same cathodes, anode material distributed lengthwise of said trough and means for rapidly circulating an electrolyte through said trough.

3. The method of electro-depositing metal on a pliirality of relatively small so arate objects which comprises holding said objects in spaced relation in a stream of rapidly fiowmg electrolyte while said objects are rendered cathodes by connection to a negative electric pole, and while anodes are distributed lengthwise of the stream adj acent the cathodes.

4. The method of forming tubes by e1ec-- trolysis which com rises holding the tubev mandrels in space relation in a flowing stream of electrolyte while an end of the tube is in contact with a negative electric conductor.

5. The method of electro-depositing metal on a plurality of separate objects which comprises immersing said objects in a stream of rapidly flowing electrolyte, while said objects are rendered cathodes by connection to a negative electric pole, and while anode material is immersed in the stream adjacent said cathodes.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MATTHEW M. MERRITT. 

